When the New Jersey Devils were in the NHL gutter earlier this season under short-lived head coach John MacLean, it was assumed they would get a lottery pick. Then Jacques Lemaire was rehired on Dec. 23, the Devils decided to stop losing games, and they ended the season with the eighth-worst record in the NHL and a 3.6-percent chance of winning the lottery.

Which, of course, they did. Because it's just sooooo Lou Lamoriello to do so after the battles they've had with the NHL.

It will be the first time the Devils will have a top 10 pick since they selected 10th in 1996 and took defenseman Lance Ward. The No. 4 pick will be the Devils' highest since they selected Scott Niedermayer(notes) third overall in 1991 with the pick they acquired from Toronto for Tom Kurvers.